We <3 APIshttp://developer.zappos.com
enUpdates to the Zappos APIhttp://developer.zappos.com/blog/updates-zappos-api-0
<p>Howdy from Zappos!</p>
<p>As many of you may have noticed, the developer portal has been broken for a while now. This was partially due to an effort to keep the number of external API keys to a minimum, and to ensure that only those developers who truly wanted/needed a key got one. Today, I need to announce another change as well.</p>
<p>We're working on some exciting new changes to the API that will eventually result in a significant new major version. This new major version will not be backwards compatible with the existing version. We will be sure to provide notification through our many channels of communication (twitter, Google group, etc) as to when we plan to break backwards compatibility as well as provide guidance on how to transition your apps to the new API.</p>
<p>For now, the only change is that we will no longer be issuing API keys to external developers, as we begin to move away from our current stack. As stated earlier, those of you who currently possess a Zappos API key will continue to enjoy access to the API, as well as access to the developer docs. </p>
<p>This is just the first of many steps as we transition our development efforts in order to better serve our customers by delivering WOW through service. Please feel free to contact us at <a href="mailto:api@zappos.com">api@zappos.com</a> with any questions.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Jim<br />
Zappos API Team</p>
http://developer.zappos.com/blog/updates-zappos-api-0#commentsWed, 03 Apr 2013 23:12:58 +000063 at http://developer.zappos.comZappos API December Hack-a-long Contest Resultshttp://developer.zappos.com/blog/zappos-api-december-hack-long-contest-results
<p>Friends, you were <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/blog/zappos-api-hackathon-hack-long-contest">warned</a>. Winter and Hackathon came and went, and while Winter was surprisingly mild, Hackathon was a blast. This was the first Zappos Hackathon to include a public contest for our friends at home to <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/blog/gifting-zappos-api-hackathon-hack-long-contest">Hack-a-long</a> with us.</p>
<p>We should have announced the winners a few months ago, but <a href="http://www.zappos.com/passwordchange">something happened</a> that has delayed the judging. Without further ado, here are the winners of the Zappos API Hackathon Hack-a-long. Each winner will be getting $100 gift certificate from Zappos.</p>
<h2>Best Overall</h2>
<h3><a href="http://ziftbot.com/">ZiftBot</a></h3>
<p>Mobile webapp for helping you pick out the wrong gift for the right person. Uses the Zappos API and <a href="http://www.sendgrid.com">SendGrid API</a> for email.</p>
<h2>Fun and Most Weird</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.ondemandcommercials.com/zapposcorevaluesgifting.html">Gifting Core Values</a></h3>
<p>Send a personalized email to someone close to you with your favorite Zappos Core Value in it using the <a href="http://www.sendgrid.com">SendGrid API</a> and Zappos API.</p>
<h2>Best Mashup</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.anonysize.me">Anonysize</a></h3>
<p>Ever been shopping for someone but didn't know their shoe size? Sure you can sneak around and ask friends or family for help. Or you can use Anonysize to anonymously ask that person for their shoe size via SMS. Using the Zappos API and <a href="http://twilio.com">Twilio</a></p>
http://developer.zappos.com/blog/zappos-api-december-hack-long-contest-results#commentsWed, 28 Mar 2012 16:50:52 +0000Jimmy Jacobson60 at http://developer.zappos.comGifting - Zappos API Hackathon Hack-a-long Contesthttp://developer.zappos.com/blog/gifting-zappos-api-hackathon-hack-long-contest
<p><a href="http://developer.zappos.com/blog/zappos-api-hackathon-hack-long-contest">Hackathon is here.</a> For this entire week, Zappos developers will be engaged in glorious Hackathon. And we want to invite you to Hack-a-along with us from home in the form of an API contest. This contest was announced a few weeks ago and was only missing one thing. A theme. But today, that theme has arrived.</p>
<p>Gifting.</p>
<p>Gifting is a combination of the words Giving - the act of To Give and Lefting - German for the opposite of Righting. Wait, our lawyers just informed me that is not correct. Okay, let's just say that scientists may never agree on the actually definition of Gifting. Gifting is our theme for this Hack-a-long contest. </p>
<p>We are looking for anything that leverages the Zappos API and falls into the theme of Gifting. We aren't even saying the final product has to be electronic...</p>
<p>For more information on eligibility and how to enter see <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/sites/default/files/Rules_and_Terms_0.doc">here</a>.</p>
<p>Here are the "Official" prizes:<br />
The prizes:</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Best Overall Application</strong>: $100 value ($100.00 Zappos.com electronic gift certificate)</li>
<li> <strong>Most Fun and Weird Application</strong>: $100 value ($100.00 Zappos.com electronic gift certificate</li>
<li> <strong>Best Mash-up Application (integrating other APIs or apps)</strong>: $100 value ($100.00 Zappos.com electronic gift certificate</li>
</ul>
<p>Astute readers may have noticed the "air quotes" around "Official". Does this mean there are also "Unofficial" prizes? YES! Some of our friends have decided to pitch in prizes as well for the best uses of both the Zappos API and their own! </p>
<ul>
<li> <strong><a href="http://developer.rovicorp.com/">Rovi</a></strong>: APIs for Multi-Media</li>
<li> <strong><a href="http://www.tokbox.com/opentok/plugnplay">TokBox</a></strong>: Drop in some video chat with Open-Tok</li>
<li> <strong><a href="http://www.sendgrid.com">SendGrid</a></strong>: Get your email on!</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://context.io">Context IO</a></strong>: API for quick and easy indexing of email inboxes. Hint... you could pull all the Zappos order confirmation emails out of an inbox and do something cool with them.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://twilio.com">Twilio</a></strong> - make almost anything SMS or Voice capable using Twilio APIs and tools. And I mean ANYTHING. Including the Kindle Fire they are offering as a prize!</li>
</ul>
<p>Judging for this contest will be performed by Zappos Employees. All [#currentZapposEmployeeCount] of us! Everyone from the executive team (Hi Tony!) to our Customer Loyalty Team will get to play with your apps and vote on the winners along side voting for our internal Hackathon.</p>
<p>This contest ends Friday afternoon at 5pm PST so get cracking and have fun. Let us know (<a href="mailto:api@zappos.com">api@zappos.com</a>) if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Support and help is available via both email, <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/zappos_api">google group</a> and via twitter (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/zappos_api">@zappos_api</a>)</p>
http://developer.zappos.com/blog/gifting-zappos-api-hackathon-hack-long-contest#commentsMon, 12 Dec 2011 07:06:49 +0000Jimmy Jacobson59 at http://developer.zappos.comRecommerce Retail Hack Day Wrap Uphttp://developer.zappos.com/blog/recommerce-retail-hack-day-wrap-0
<p>I was somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when this blog post finally started to take hold. The First Recommerce Retail Hack Day happened 1 month ago, on Sept 17th, 2011 and I feel that it set a lot of World Firsts for Hackathons.</p>
<p><a href="http://developer.zappos.com/blog/recommerce-retail-hack-day-wrap-0" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://developer.zappos.com/blog/recommerce-retail-hack-day-wrap-0#commentsMon, 24 Oct 2011 23:28:34 +0000Jimmy Jacobson57 at http://developer.zappos.comRecommerce Retail Hack Day Wrap Uphttp://developer.zappos.com/blog/recommerce-retail-hack-day-wrap
<script src="http://storify.com/jimmyjacobson/recommerce-day-retail-hackathon.js"></script><p>[<a href="http://storify.com/jimmyjacobson/recommerce-day-retail-hackathon" target="blank">View the story "Recommerce Hack Day" on Storify]</a></p>
http://developer.zappos.com/blog/recommerce-retail-hack-day-wrap#commentsMon, 24 Oct 2011 23:27:41 +0000Jimmy Jacobson56 at http://developer.zappos.comFirst Zappos Developer Contest!http://developer.zappos.com/blog/first-zappos-developer-contest
<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5515697176_06396ef0cb_o.jpg" /></p>
<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>We &lt;3 APIs and we especially love companies that have easy to use APIs and host developer challenges to reward new and creative uses of their API. While we hope we fall into the first category, we now officially fall into the second category as a contest loving, API hosting company! Announcing the first (of many) <a href="/">Zappos API</a> Developer Challenge-palooza-athon.</p>
<p>We launced the Zappos API a year ago and in that time, the API team has been working hard to make sure all your API calls are answered in a timely manner. At first, it was just a call here and there but now there are many awesome Apps calling us day and night including Ipad, Iphone, Android and mashups. We've been having a lot of fun using our API internally for our Hackathons as well. But now, we want you to have fun too, with our first Developer Contest!</p>
<p>The full contest rules can be found here: <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/zappos-public-api-developer-contest-rules-march-2011" title="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/zappos-public-api-developer-contest-rules-march-2011">http://developer.zappos.com/docs/zappos-public-api-developer-contest-rul...</a>.</p>
<p>We're looking to spotlight and reward a few fun applications built with the Zappos API. Your entry doesn't need to be a fully featured-multi-page website (but that's ok too). Feel free to just submit a simple widget, module or even single page web app that makes creative use of our API.</p>
<p>The prizes:</p>
<ul>
<li> <strong>Best Overall Application</strong>: $1000 value ($500.00 Zappos.com electronic gift certificate and $500.00 cash)</li>
<li> <strong>Most Fun and Weird Application</strong>: $500 value ($250.00 Zappos.com electronic gift certificate and $250.00 cash)</li>
<li> <strong>Best Mash-up Application (integrating other APIs or apps)</strong>: $500 value ($250.00 Zappos.com electronic gift certificate and $250.00 cash)</li>
</ul>
<p>While not mandatory, extra consideration will be given to applications that provide a fun and new way to navigate our enormous (that's what she said) product catalog. Don't be afraid to build an app that focuses on just one of our many product categories. Did you even know we sold housewares, watches and sunglasses? We also have an amazing Statistics API that gives you the ability to pull some very interesting data from our sales history. Head on over to API documentation to get more information: <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-documentation" title="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-documentation">http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-documentation</a></p>
<p>When you are finished, throw a Facebook Like button on it so we can show you some love in return.</p>
<p>Check out the full contest rules on how to enter. The contest runs from March 10th until March 31st. Get cracking and have fun. Let us know (<a href="mailto:api@zappos.com">api@zappos.com</a>) if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Support and help is available via both email, <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/zappos_api">google group</a> and via twitter (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/zappos_api">@zappos_api</a>)</p>
<p>Thanks
- Zappos API Team</p>
http://developer.zappos.com/blog/first-zappos-developer-contest#commentsThu, 10 Mar 2011 18:04:54 +0000Will Young40 at http://developer.zappos.comZappos API Quick Tourhttp://developer.zappos.com/blog/zappos-api-quick-tour
<p>Okay, so this is awkward. We get it. You heard about the Zappos API and are excited to play with it. Then you signed up for a Zappos Developer Account and set up a key. You put that key into a config file and got ready to do some coding. Then you hit a brick wall. We get it. We want to help. Let us give you a quick whirlwind tour of our API in the form of a challenge. Finish the challenge and tweet us a URL and we'll retweet it in your honor.</p>
<ol>
<li>First things first, you'll need a key to use the Zappos API. If you don't have one, head on over to <a href="http://developer.zappos.com" title="http://developer.zappos.com">http://developer.zappos.com</a> to activate your account and set up a new Application and grab your key.</li>
<li>Did you know that Zappos is the 6th best company to work for according to people that measure best companies to work for? That's thanks in part to our 10 Core Values. Take a look at our Core Value API <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-corevalue" title="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-corevalue">http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-corevalue</a> and figure out which of our Core Value's best fits you. #eastereggalert #spinaltapfans</li>
<li>Zappos has a large selection of shoes and clothes. Take a look at our Brand API and see what Brand best matches your favorite Core Value <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-brand" title="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-brand">http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-brand</a>.</li>
<li>Use our Search API to find some products from that Brand <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-search-api" title="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-search-api">http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-search-api</a></li>
<li>Our Statistics API lets you find the most popular and recently purchased items in your geo-region-zone-check-in-i-have-100000-facebook-friends thingy. Check it out and see if your Core Value/Brand is hot in your area (<a href="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-statistics" title="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-statistics">http://developer.zappos.com/docs/api-statistics</a>)</li>
<li>Now that you've learned how to make these calls, why don't you put all this hard work into a web app and let other people find their favorite Core Values and Brands. Include some Make It Awesome(tm) for good measure.</li>
<li>Email us (<a href="mailto:api@zappos.com">api@zappos.com</a>) or Tweet us (@zappos_api) a URL to check out your web app and we'll make you famous (note: we might not actually be able to make you famous, but we will give you a tweet shout out).</li>
</ol>
<p>Here are a few other web apps that run on the Zappos API, in case he ideas still aren't flowing.</p>
<p> * A Map! <a href="http://www.zappos.com/map" title="http://www.zappos.com/map">http://www.zappos.com/map</a><br />
* An iphone app! <a href="http://blogs.zappos.com/iPhone" title="http://blogs.zappos.com/iPhone">http://blogs.zappos.com/iPhone</a><br />
* A plugin! <a href="http://marketplace.seesmic.com/plugins/zappos-plugin" title="http://marketplace.seesmic.com/plugins/zappos-plugin">http://marketplace.seesmic.com/plugins/zappos-plugin</a></p>
<p>We hope this helps get you started along the path of API Awesomesauce. The Zappos API team is here to help with any questions you may have so feel free to email or tweet us with any questions, concerns or advice.</p>
http://developer.zappos.com/blog/zappos-api-quick-tour#commentsThu, 10 Mar 2011 18:00:37 +0000Will Young39 at http://developer.zappos.comHeads-up | Public API Version 2.0 launching this week (~2/16/2011)http://developer.zappos.com/blog/heads-public-api-version-20-launching-week-2162011
<p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>We've been quite recently, but we've still been furiously working on the Zappos API! A lot of our work recently has been a large number of improvements and bug fixes for behind the scenes things (improved management, performance, reliability). </p>
<p>In fact, we will be launching our 2.0 release this week (around Weds 2/16/2010). This release was a huge effort by our API team. We rewrote a lot of our API infrastructure and in doing so future enhancements and maintenance to the API will be easier and more robust.</p>
<p>Most API clients won't even notice any changes when we flip the switch. However, the 2 things you may notice:</p>
<p>1. Our JSON responses are now content type application/json. If you are hitting the API via your web browser, you may want to get a browser plugin that displays the results in the browser instead of prompting you to download it</p>
<p>2. Our API will now be more strict on bad inputs. Previously, if you were passing unknown parameters to any end point they were just ignored. Now, unrecognized parameters will cause a 400 "Bad Input". We've been going through our activity logs and we think this will cause a minimal impact on users.</p>
<p>Our amazing dev and QA team has been doing a lot of regression testing to make sure we don't break your world with this release. However, if you see anything that isn't working as expected after we upgrade, don't hesitate to let us know. Check out our contact page for all the ways to get a hold of us: <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/contact-us" title="http://developer.zappos.com/docs/contact-us">http://developer.zappos.com/docs/contact-us</a></p>
<p>Thanks for playing with the Zappos API! We have some fun things planned in 2011 and we'll be posting more details on that soon. HINT: Developer contest anyone?</p>
<p>- Zappos API Team<br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/zappos_api" title="http://twitter.com/zappos_api">http://twitter.com/zappos_api</a></p>
http://developer.zappos.com/blog/heads-public-api-version-20-launching-week-2162011#commentsTue, 15 Feb 2011 05:20:25 +0000Will Young34 at http://developer.zappos.comDeveloper Profile: Igor K. developer of ShoesNBagshttp://developer.zappos.com/blog/developer-profile-igor-k-developer-shoesnbags
<p>We are stoked to be doing the first of what we hope are many developer profiles on our blog. Around 2 months after we removed the restriction of allowing mobile apps built on our API (details <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/zappos_api/browse_thread/thread/32a4bfdbda8ae0e6?pli=1">here</a> and <a href="http://blog.programmableweb.com/2010/07/14/zappos-comes-to-its-senses-allows-mobile-apps/">here</a>), Igor launched his <a href="http://www.programmableweb.com/mashup/shoesnbags">ShoesNBags</a> app to the iTunes store. He actually got into the AppStore a few days before our <a href="http://developer.zappos.com/blog/official-zapposcom-ipad-app">Official iPad app</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself (school, work, interests, hobbies, languages you love, first app your ever built, etc.)</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://developer.zappos.com/blog/developer-profile-igor-k-developer-shoesnbags" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://developer.zappos.com/blog/developer-profile-igor-k-developer-shoesnbags#commentsThu, 07 Oct 2010 17:26:36 +0000Will Young28 at http://developer.zappos.comOfficial Zappos.com iPad App!http://developer.zappos.com/blog/official-zapposcom-ipad-app
<h2 id="Launched">Launched!</h2>
<p>We couldn't be happier to announce that the <a href="http://www.zappos.com">Zappos.com</a> iPad app hit the iTunes store this week!</p>
<p><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zappos-mobile/id392988420?mt=8" title="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zappos-mobile/id392988420?mt=8">http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zappos-mobile/id392988420?mt=8</a></p>
<p><a href="http://developer.zappos.com/blog/official-zapposcom-ipad-app" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://developer.zappos.com/blog/official-zapposcom-ipad-app#commentsThu, 07 Oct 2010 16:12:25 +0000Will Young27 at http://developer.zappos.com